Why did Ford have the 1993 2.3L come out with 8 spark plugs? (2 per cylinder.) Me and my dad was just wondering, Our guess was just to burn all the fuel dumped in the cylinders, givin it more horsepower, but if anyone else has the reason, can u tell me please? Thanks.

That is a good question. I have never heard of this but the chevy Z24 had the quad 4 with two plugs per cylinder which was no dog for what it was, so it may have been some attempt to compete for the 4 banger market without the svo turbo for the later years of the fox body. I am not an expert on the 4 cylinder fox motors but I would put a turbo on the motor with the extra fire u cold have a super light speed demon.

Yeah, I have a turbo block out of them XR4tii whatever kind of cars they are, and was thinking about throwing the turbo in it, but I found a 5.0 to go in it, so thats what I went with. Its been my dream, lol

Because when Ford went to the DIS (distributorless ignition system) on the 2.3, it was using what is know as a "waste-spark" system in which each coil fires two plugs at one time and in which one spark was wasted while the other burned fuel. In a "Vee" engine, this wasted spark could go to another cylinder to sync the sparks with the position of the pistons in their respective cylinders, in four cylinder inline engines, the easier way to balance it was to distribute the wasted sparks across four extra spark plugs, the result was actually increased performance and slightly cleaner emissions (the Japanese had been doing the same with twin-rotor distributors firing 8 plugs in their four cylinders in certain engines for years at that point for those benefits).

The power numbers speak for themselves, an increase from 88hp to 105hp is a lot from little more than an ignition system change and better intake.

Because when Ford went to the DIS (distributorless ignition system) on the 2.3, it was using what is know as a "waste-spark" system in which each coil fires two plugs at one time and in which one spark was wasted while the other burned fuel. In a "Vee" engine, this wasted spark could go to another cylinder to sync the sparks with the position of the pistons in their respective cylinders, in four cylinder inline engines, the easier way to balance it was to distribute the wasted sparks across four extra spark plugs, the result was actually increased performance and slightly cleaner emissions (the Japanese had been doing the same with twin-rotor distributors firing 8 plugs in their four cylinders in certain engines for years at that point for those benefits).

The power numbers speak for themselves, an increase from 88hp to 105hp is a lot from little more than an ignition system change and better intake.

well i know i could tell the difference between mine and my dad's (he had a distributor 2.3L, like '89 I think.. and mines a '93)

Speed Density. It also measures how much air flow is being put in but it uses the engines vacuum to say about how much fuel to add (its basically a vacuum line from the manifold to the vacuum tree and the MAP sensor reads that (vacuum))

I'm sure someone can explain it better

The sad thing is, with 15 PSI, straight back exhaust, and a bobs log, it still feels slow...

Maybe 20PSI, new computer, new 3" VAM, and some porting will make it faster

Speed-density estimates engine airflow by using engine RPM and Vacuum (Speed and Density) and comparing the values it recieves to a pre-programmed table in the ECM/PCM. This is actually slightly better for power in stock form, but if you modify the engine you must have your ECM or PCM's PROM re-flashed to correspond with the new vacuum values it will read.

Mass-air directly measures air mass and delivers fuel in direct relation. Bone-stock on otherwise identical engines it will be slightly less powerful due to the air restriction in the intake, but engine mods can be pretty moderate before any computer recalibration is needed.

The famed "Dual Plug" head, with 2 spark plugs per chamber. The first major redesign of the 2.3 lima head since the original pinto debut. Intake ports have a massive swirl dam in the bowl area to induce swirl for cleaner emissions and low speed torque. The intake ports are a smaller version of the "D" shape, however they are symmetrical as opposed to angled different directions like the early heads. The ports themselves are much smaller in diameter for high velocity low speed power. The intake bolt pattern is different from the early heads as well, manifolds will not interchange. The combustion chambers were redesigned as well for a higher swirl and faster burn. The exhaust port is identical however in location and bolt pattern. These heads all came with roller cams. No smog holes in the EX ports. Typical casting #'s E89E-AB, E97E-BA

If you have the double spark plug heads on your little LX, you cannot replace them with an older style head (even aftermarket performance heads). Your EEC requires the extra 4 spark plugs to run your car. The guys at Esslinger Engineering informed me of that BEFORE I purchased one of their performance heads for my little 2.3l.
They can port and polish the one you have and change your valves to improve performance. Look them up online. They have been doing performance upgrades for 2.3l Ford engines since 1973 and know their stuff.

Spend your money once and get what you need. Do not cut corners and try to save a buck. It will cost you MORE to fix the problems caused.

Don't just hack into your Mustang to cut out weight to make it faster (some of those components are important to the overall function and safety of your Mustang).

Knowledge equates to power and handing... get to know what works and use it! Sometimes the popular MOD of the moment may NOT be best... ignore "fads"!